DUNWOODY: Proposed managers drop bid

The management firm that has been negotiating for months to privatize city services in Dunwoody abruptly withdrew its proposal Monday, hours before the City Council was slated to discuss it and another bid.

CH2M Hill told leaders in the new northern DeKalb County municipality that they no longer wanted to be considered at about 4 p.m. Mayor Ken Wright said the city hopes to negotiate with the private management firm based in Colorado.

Representatives of the firm could not be reached Monday night.

Oliver Porter had helped the nonprofit group Citizens For Dunwoody with its efforts to push for incorporation, including months of talks with CH2M Hill. “They withdrew because they don’t feel they can get the kind of support they need to partner with the city,” Porter said.

Last week, a second management firm, Boyken International, based in Atlanta, submitted a hybrid proposal to counter CH2M Hill. Chief Executive Donald Boyken said Monday his plan would provide city leaders more control over their services and cash, as well as save the city money.

In a previous session, officials said the CH2M Hill deal would put the city $2 million in the red over three years. CH2M Hill has never made public its price to manage Dunwoody, claiming it was proprietary information.

The Boyken proposal, which calls for the city to hire department heads who then contract with private firms for services, reportedly would save the city nearly $7 million in that same time period. Boyken also has not made public a price tag to run the new city.

The two firms are the only ones that have offered to run city operations.

Council members must decide if they want to hash out a deal with Boyken or send out another call for bids. The city also could begin operations on Dec. 1 without a plan in place, paying the county for services temporarily.